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Union appeal focuses attention on pension precedent

SACRAMENTO – A decision by four Marin County public-employee associations to appeal a pension-related case to the California Supreme Court could ultimately determine whether localities have the tools needed to rein in escalating pension debt. At issue is how far

State-run retirement program may massively expand federal equivalent

Matt Fleming October 7, 2016

State officials in charge of implementing a new state-run retirement program are considering using the federal MyRA program temporarily, which would be a big boon to President Barack Obama’s struggling initiative. The MyRA program is one of a few possibilities being

Despite $59.7 million error, key Prop 30 education account gets OK’d in audit

Matt Fleming October 6, 2016

A key provision from a 2012 ballot measure that taxed top incomes to fund education was recently given a clean bill of health by the state controller’s office, just in time for voters to consider a 12-year extension of the program. The

Former GOP congressman laying gubernatorial groundwork to avoid mistakes of 2016

Matt Fleming October 5, 2016

Former Republican Congressman Tom Campbell is laying the groundwork for an unspecified Republican candidate in the 2018 gubernatorial race, hoping to avoid what happened in this cycle’s U.S. Senate race where no Republican candidate advanced to the general election. Campbell,

Wells Fargo punishment spreads from CA

James Poulos October 5, 2016

In the wake of California’s unprecedented punishment of San Francisco-based Wells Fargo for bogus lending practices, legal sanctions spread eastward, with other state officials and Hillary Clinton herself going after the bank. Already, in Washington, members of the House Financial

CA golf club suit deepens Trump woes

James Poulos October 4, 2016

Another unflattering story from Donald Trump’s recent past, this one playing out in California, has fueled a fresh round of criticism against his character and his campaign. “After the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes opened for

Gov. Jerry Brown signs host of significant legislation

Steven Greenhut October 4, 2016

SACRAMENTO – The 2016 legislative season is officially over, with Gov. Jerry Brown having signed 900 bills while vetoing 159 by Friday’s deadline. Some of the recently signed bills are far-reaching and will have a noticeable effect on Californians’ lives. Here’s a

Janet Napolitano rebukes policing speech on college campuses

James Poulos October 3, 2016

With a single op-ed, UC chief Janet Napolitano has become an unlikely ally of conservative and traditionalist critics of the speech-policing movement among campus crusaders nationwide. In a Boston Globe op-ed entitled “It’s time to free speech on campus again,” Napolitano

Old is new as California sees more European immigrants

James Poulos October 2, 2016

The face of immigration in California has become more complex than the political debate would suggest, with Roma, or gypsies, coming to the state in small but significantly increased numbers. The trend hearkens back to the old days of the controversy

The San Diego Union-Tribune endorses a Democrat for president, first time ever

Matt Fleming September 30, 2016

For the first time in its 148-year history, The San Diego Union-Tribune endorsed a Democrat for president — Hillary Clinton. San Diego has historically been a reliably Republican county, although Democrats have surpassed Republicans in voter registration, currently holding a